First Jump FAQs

Start Skydiving is conveniently located ~ 15 minutes off of I-75 at Middletown Regional Airport, 1711 Run Way, Middletown, OH 4504. We’re smack dab at the midpoint between Dayton and Cincinnati, right along the beautiful Great Miami River. It’s super easy to get us from most any city within a 300 mile radius of us!

• Dayton, OH – 30 mins
• Cincinnati, OH – 45 mins
• Louisville, KY – 2 hrs 30 mins
• Indianapolis, IN – 2 hrs 10 mins
• Columbus, OH – 1 hr 30 mins
• Lexington, KY – 2 hrs
• Toledo, OH – 2 hrs 30 mins
• Akron, OH – 3 hrs 15 mins
• Cleveland, OH – 3 hrs 30 mins

That all depends on the time of year because, you know, Ohio! We jump until sunset if we have good weather and enough jumpers. We’re always closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

MARCH

• Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – Sunset

APRIL

• Monday & Friday: 1:00 p.m.. – Sunset
• Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – Sunset

MAY TO SEPTEMBER – SKYDIVING SEASON!

• Monday, Thursday & Friday: 1:00 p.m. – Sunset
• Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – Sunset
• Tuesday: Office Closed; No Jumping
• Wednesday: Office Hours 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (No Jumping)

OCTOBER

• Monday & Friday: 1:00 p.m. – Sunset
• Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – Sunset

NOVEMBER

• Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – Sunset

MID-NOVEMBER TO MID-MARCH*

• Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – Sunset
• Jumping for licensed skydivers only.

* Jumping for licensed skydivers only. Temperatures must reach at least 40°F on the ground; pilot and staff must be available; and we must have enough jumpers to efficiently send loads. All information ~ off-season jumping is posted on our Licensed Jumpers Facebook page.

Can’t get us on the phone? Leave a voicemail and we’ll return your call as soon as possible, or email us at [email protected].

Reservations for tandem skydiving are highly recommended. To get your pick of dates and times, make your booking as far in advance as possible.

Walk-ins are welcome … but you’ll want to take note of a few important things first:

• Prices differ for walk-in customers
• Walk-ins must wait for a time slot to become available
• Walk-ins may have to wait until all reservations have jumped before being able to jump
• Walk-ins are not guaranteed a time slot

Your reservation time is your check-in time, not your jump time.

You’re welcome to come early and watch the action or do some indoor climbing, but arriving early will not mean jumping early. Note that arriving 15 or more minutes late after your reservation time will result in a late check-in fee of $25 per person.

If you are surprising someone with a skydive, please arrange for them to arrive 15 to 30 minutes prior to their reservation time to complete their waiver.

Plan on spending up to half a day at the dropzone. We only skydive if the weather gods give us the green light, so it’s best not to make plans for after your jump.

Real talk: once you see our incredible amenities, you’ll want to hang out longer! Onsite, we have a high ropes course and indoor climbing wall, cornhole, tabletop games, plenty of green space complete with lawn chairs, picnic tables and shade, and free Wi-Fi.

Our campus runs alongside Smith Park, which has a fishing pond, splash pad, playground, and soccer and baseball fields. Plus, you can kayak on the Great Miami River and bike on the Great Miami River Trail (over 75+ miles long!). And when your adventures work up your appetite, there are several restaurants and hotels less than half of a mile away!

Absolutely – and the more, the merrier! We have great on-site amenities, so you can rest assured that your fan club will be comfortable and cool while you’re on your grand adventure.

We have two large paved patio areas with picnic tables, umbrellas, and lawn chairs, as well as manicured green spaces that are perfect for lounging around. They’ll have a great view of the boarding and landing areas, and will see you overhead as you make your descent!

Encourage your hype crew to pack up their particulars and stay awhile! We recommend that folks bring:

• Camera
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Stereo (clean lyrics and moderate volume, please!)
• Picnic blanket
• Snacks
• Water and drinks (non-alcoholic only; no onsite water fountain)

Yes! Bringing a group not only ups the stoke factor way up, but it also brings the price of everyone’s jump down! Check out our Tandem Skydive Prices page for details.

Make sure everyone in your group uses the same Group ID at the time of booking. All waivers must be completed prior to the first reservation time in the group. Contact us with questions.

Due to safety regulations, tandem students cannot jump at the exact same time together. As long as enough instructors are available for your group, though, you can be on the same plane load as your pals or family!

We always try to keep groups together, although we can’t guarantee that full groups will all be on the same plane because of space and balance. If we do have to split your group, we’ll get your input on dividing you up as evenly as possible so no one ends up jumping without a buddy. We’ll also get the real-deal on which sub-group wants to go first!

Service dogs are welcome at Start Skydiving. For safety reasons, pet dogs are not allowed at the dropzone.

In accordance with a mandate set forth by the United States Parachute Association (USPA), you must be at least 18 years of age in order to skydive at Start Skydiving. Please remember to bring your valid, government-issued, photo ID with you to the dropzone to prove your age and identity. Consent from a parent or guardian will not suffice.

There is no maximum age for skydiving. If you are in reasonably good health and your doctor has cleared you to skydive, then age is just a number.

Yes. For safety reasons, you cannot weigh more than 235 lbs and you must be height-to-weight proportionate in order to skydive at Start Skydiving. Tandem skydiving rigs are built to carry a combined weight of 500 lbs – that includes you, your instructor, and the gear you’ll both wear.

All participants are weighed at check-in. Jumpers weighing over 220 lbs will be charged $15 per 5 lbs over 220 lbs upon arrival. This requirement is not intended to be exclusive or discriminatory. In addition to weight and balance calculations for the aircraft, we have to consider the health and safety of our guests and instructors, as well as associated equipment maintenance and fuel consumption.

Have weight concerns? Get in touch – we’re here to help.

Yes, prospective tandem students should be in reasonably good physical shape – skydiving is a sport after all! You will need to stretch and reach, crouch, squat, arch your back, and lift your legs. The better your physical condition, the more you will enjoy the experience.

If you have specific questions about the physical requirements of skydiving, get in touch and, as always, talk with your doctor.

At Start Skydiving, we are committed to making accommodations for people with disabilities whenever we can. In fact, we’re the only skydiving center in the United States that specializes in taking quadriplegics skydiving.

Of course, each disability requires special considerations. If there are any concerns about whether your disability may affect your skydiving experience, please get a doctor′s opinion. We cannot tell you how skydiving may affect you – only you and your physician can make the judgment.

We have specific experience with making accommodations for people with:

• Hearing impairment
• Vision impairment
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia

Learn more about skydiving with a disability with us!

Skydiving with a cold can be legitimately painful. Better to reschedule your jump and spare yourself the mega discomfort.

If you are prone to fainting spells or blackouts, or if you have a heart condition, you likely should not skydive. Those with respiratory illness *may* have a problem due to atmospheric changes at altitude. Do not skydive if you are pregnant. Talk with your doctor if you have specific questions before booking your skydive.

That depends on when you want to jump, if you’ll be part of a group, and if you book in advance. Check out our Tandem Skydive Pricing page for details!

Yes, groups of three or more people are eligible for a discount – the more people in your group, the higher the discount. Students, teachers, members of the military, veterans and first responders receive a skydiving media package discount.

See our Tandem Skydive Pricing page for details.

A deposit is required if you make a reservation ahead of jump day … and you get a better rate for booking in advance! The remaining balance must be paid in full upon arrival. Walk-ins and same-day bookings do not have to make a deposit, but do pay a premium.

See our Tandem Skydive Pricing page for details.

We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, VISA, and cash. We do not accept checks.

You must provide at least 48 hours notice in order to cancel or reschedule for any reason. Please have a future date in mind to use as a backup date if you cancel or reschedule your jump in a timely manner.

If there are any delays on jump, such as a weather hold, you must wait for at least two hours after your scheduled check-in time before being able to reschedule without a $50 cancellation fee.

Canceling within less than 48 hours notice will result in a $50 surcharge. Failure to show for your scheduled appointment without any notice forfeits any and all payments. Failure to board the plane when your load is called also forfeits any and all payments.

Any and all payments made prior to the day of your reservation, including any deposits, are non-refundable. However, deposits and payments may be transferred to someone else for a $25 transfer fee if the transfer is requested at least 48 hours before your reservation time.

Note, any discounted prices paid will no longer cover the full price of the discounted services that were originally purchased after transferring the amount to the new person. The difference between the discounted amount paid and the full price must be paid upon arrival prior to providing the service.

You do not have to jump if you change your mind; we will never force anyone out of the plane. Note that you will not receive a refund or the opportunity to “try again” if you choose not to jump. Any and all payments, including any deposits, are non-refundable.

You must provide at least 48 hours notice in order to cancel or reschedule for any reason. Any and all payments, including any deposits, are non-refundable. However, deposits and payments may be transferred to someone else if the transfer is requested at least 48 hours before your reservation time.

Note, any discounted prices paid will no longer cover the full price of the discounted services that were originally purchased after transferring the amount to the new person. The difference between the discounted amount paid and the full price must be paid upon arrival prior to providing the service.

Like most outdoor activities, skydiving is weather dependent. We are affected by all aspects of the weather – some that may even surprise you! Oftentimes the weather at altitude is a bit different than it is on the ground. For the long and short of our weather policy, read on. For the nitty gritty, check out our Weather Resources page.

Jump operations are suspended in the event of:

• Strong steady winds or gusts
• Low clouds and fog
• Rain
• Lightning, thunder; storms
• Temperature below 40°F at ground level
• Wind chill factor below -30°F at altitude

If you have waited for at least two hours after your scheduled check-in time and we still have not been able to jump due to the weather, then you may reschedule for another date during the same season at no additional cost. However, any difference in price must be paid in full upon arrival for your rescheduled jump (i.e. moving a weekday jump to a weekend jump).

If you elect to leave before the two hour minimum wait time, you will incur a $50 fee to reschedule.

If Start Skydiving cancels jump operations prior to your scheduled jump day and time, we will offer you the opportunity to reschedule to another date without penalty. Please have a future date in mind to use as a backup date.

Yes. Start Skydiving requires that each customer sign a legally binding assumption-of-risk agreement. The document makes it clear that the sport has its risks and that the jumper is electing to jump in spite of those risks. In order to participate in any skydiving related activities, you must first sign and execute this legal contract agreement that waives certain rights.

You must completely fill out, sign, and execute your waiver before you arrive at your scheduled check-in time. Failure to do so will result in a $25 fee being charged upon check-in.

It is illegal to sign a waiver for anyone else other than yourself. Doing so will result in denial of service to the participant whose waiver was forged until a new waiver is completed and the difference between the discounted price already paid and the full walk-in day-of purchase price is paid in full.

Tipping your tandem instructor and/or videographer is not expected but it is, of course, appreciated. You are welcome to express your gratitude to your tandem team if you’d like to do so. Another great way to show your instructor and/or videographer a little love is to share a glowing review about their work and the dropzone on Google, TripAdvisor, or Facebook.

Yes! And they make an amazing gift for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and other celebrations. We offer gift certificates for specific experiences – including tandem skydiving, media packages, observer flights, AFF training, and lift tickets – and for Start Bucks, which can be applied to any service at the dropzone. Start Bucks are available in the following increments:

• $25
• $50
• $100
• $200

Gift certificate purchases are nonrefundable. Check out our Gift Certificates page for more info.

Start Skydiving gift certificate values are good for five years from the date of purchase however, any discounted rates are only good for the specified period. If the specified period has expired, the funds can be applied towards a full priced jump. Gift certificates are nonrefundable, but are transferable, and should be treated like cash.

Yes – and you’ll be so glad you did! We offer three packages; check out our Video & Photo Packages page for details.

This is a rhetorical question, right? YES! Skydiving video is SO worth it! You’ll kick yourself in the pants if you don’t get a skydiving video!

From fear and exhilaration to freedom and disbelief, there’s a lot going on in your body and brain on jump day. It’s common for people to say their skydive was over in a second, and for parts of the experience to have transpired in slow motion. Don’t get so caught up in the moment that the moment passes you by, catch it on video!! You only get to skydive for the first time once.

You’ll get an email containing a link to your media within 1 to 48 hours of your jump.

No way. According to the Basic Safety Regulations (BSRs) mandated by the United States Parachute Association (USPA), you have to be a USPA C licensed skydiver with at least 200 skydives to wear any camera gear on your person or equipment.

So, whether you just purchased a GoPro for the jump, have mounts galore, took a video class in college, have a friend who is a photographer, you are not allowed to take it on your skydive no matter how much you beg. Leave it to the pros!

No – it’s not possible. For safety and logistics reasons, every tandem student is more than a quarter mile from each other in freefall. You won’t be near each other, let alone hold hands or talk to each other, and a videographer cannot physically fly between two students and get footage of both.

But! You can feature in each other’s video and photos while you’re on the ground before and after your jump, and while you’re on the plane.

Nice try. You’re paying for the service, not for the number of photos. You must purchase a media package even if you only want one picture!

You must present your valid, government-issued photo ID with you to the dropzone to prove your age, identity, and residency. If you don’t bring it with you, you won’t be jumping. Sorry, permission from a parent or guardian will not suffice.

Complete your digital waiver online or bring your waiver, completely filled out, signed and executed with your full legal name as it appears on your ID. Failure to do so will result in a $25 fee being charged upon check-in. Note that it is illegal to sign a waiver for anyone else other than yourself. See “Will I have to sign a waiver?” question above for more information.

You must also bring a valid form of payment to pay any remaining balances or surcharges or purchase any video or photo packages.

If you are taking advantage of our media package discounts for students, teachers, members of the military, veterans, and first responders, bring the relevant ID to receive your discount at check in.

In the event of a weather hold or other delay – or if you want to hang out after your jump – you’re welcome to bring:

• Snacks
• Water and drinks (non-alcoholic only; no onsite water fountain)
• Camera
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Stereo (clean lyrics and moderate volume, please!)
• Picnic blanket

Onsite, we have a high ropes course and indoor climbing wall, cornhole, tabletop games, plenty of green space complete with lawn chairs, picnic tables and shade, and free Wi-Fi.

When deciding what to wear, please keep in mind the temperature at jump altitude is often 20°F to 30°F colder than the temperature on the ground.

Close-fitting, weather-appropriate athletic clothing that will fit comfortably under the skydiving harness is best. Jeans are okay but not recommended. Belts are not permitted. Choose clothing items that are OK to get dirty, damaged, or wet.

We’ll kit you out with a skydiving jumpsuit to wear over your clothing during your jump. Jumpsuits help prevent your clothes from getting dirty, damaged, or wet, and will keep you a little bit warmer on colder days.

Attire determined to be inappropriate or unsafe for skydiving may not be permitted to skydive. No refunds are given for anyone who is denied service for this reason.

Athletic shoes with good shock-absorption, such as tennis shoes, gym shoes, or sneakers, are ideal.

Sandals, flip-flops, toe-shoes, high-heels, dress shoes, and boots of any kind are not permitted. Footwear that contains bungee straps, velcro straps, hooks, or buckles is also not permitted.

Remove things that may be lost to the wind, like piercings, watches, bracelets, and other jewelry. We are not responsible for any items lost or injuries that occur during your visit with us here at Start Skydiving.

Attire determined to be inappropriate or unsafe for skydiving may not be permitted to skydive. No refunds are given for anyone who is denied service for this reason.

Note:

• Jeans are okay but not recommended.
• Belts are not permitted.
• Sandals, flip-flops, toe-shoes, high-heels, dress shoes, and boots are not permitted.
• Anything with bungee straps, velcro, hooks, or buckles is not permitted.

Yes, and you should – you don’t want to miss a millisecond of the action! We’ll provide you with protective skydiving goggles that fit over most eyeglasses. Wear your most low profile pair to ensure proper fit.

Yes, please eat a normal meal, avoiding heavy or greasy foods! Eating too much will make you feel sluggish and sick. Eating too little will make you feel dizzy and sick. Feeling sick, or worse getting sick, while skydiving is no fun – feed your body and your brain!

Dehydration and skydiving are arch enemies. Drink plenty of water and bring drinks with you to the dropzone to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Do not overindulge in alcohol the night before your jump, and do not consume ANY alcohol before your skydive on jump day. If you are suspected of being under the influence, you will not be permitted to skydive and will not be refunded.

There are several restaurants, bars, and grocery stores near Start Skydiving. Take your pick, or ask us for a recommendation.

Tandem skydiving offers the ultimate introduction to the sport because it allows the novice (student) to jump with an experienced and highly-trained skydiver (tandem instructor) after less than an hour of ground training.

The student and tandem instructor each wear a harness, with the instructor wearing the main and reserve parachutes. The student’s harness attaches to the front of the instructor’s harness and the two freefall, fly under the parachute, and land together.

Due to the overwhelming nature of making your first skydive, most people find it difficult to correctly perform all of the necessary tasks required to pass the skydiving training course without any previous freefall experience. This is why we strongly encourage our students to perform at least one tandem before enrolling in a learn to skydive program.

However, at Start Skydiving you are not required to do a tandem skydive before training to jump solo. Check out our What Is AFF? page to learn about our training program.

We strive to send every plane load to 13,500’ AGL. Certain unavoidable constraints, such as overcast or broken clouds or Air Traffic Control (ATC) will require that we jump from a lower altitude.

The minimum exit altitude for a tandem skydive at our airport elevation is 7,500’ AGL.

Freefall is the closest thing to human flight! Freefall does not give you the “roller coaster drop” feeling that most people expect. It is a comfortable floating sensation whereby the slight pressure of air against your body makes you feel supported. You experience a sense of freedom that you cannot achieve in any other way.

When you leave the aircraft, you are moving horizontally at the same speed as the aircraft, typically 90 to 110 mph. During the first 10 seconds of freefall, you’ll accelerate to between 115 to 130 mph straight down – typically 120 mph as a tandem pair.

You will reach terminal velocity when the rate at which you are falling down is equal to the air resistance pushing up on you, preventing further acceleration.

The opening “shock” of the parachute is much like jumping feet-first into a pool of water or hitting the brakes in your car abruptly. The opening takes about two to five seconds and is not uncomfortable. Once the parachute is deployed, you’ll be able to easily talk with your instructor.

Modern parachutes are simple to maneuver and steer – your instructor may even offer you to take the controls! If you are susceptible to motion sickness, your instructor can fly you down gently … but if you want a wild ride, let ’em know!

The days of landing like a sack of flour are history. Most tandem students slide in softly on their bums with a force similar to that of a baseball slide.

In the US, parachuting is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by Part 105 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The FAA allows sport parachuting to monitor itself in training and operational requirements. After all, it is a sport just like SCUBA diving or rock climbing.

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) has developed standards called Basic Safety Requirements which all USPA affiliates pledge to follow. BSRs represent the commonly accepted standards for the highest levels of safety. They cover equipment, training, dropzone requirements, wind limits, etc.

Start Skydiving is a proud USPA-member dropzone.

Skydiving is a high-speed aerial sport that exposes participants to the real risk of injury and death. Analysis of skydiving accidents show that most are caused by experienced jumpers who make mistakes of procedure or judgment. Contrary to popular belief, very few skydiving accidents or injuries are caused by random or unexpected equipment failure.

In 2022, the United States Parachute Association (USPA) reported 20 fatal skydiving accidents out of 3.9 million jumps – a rate of 0.51 fatalities per 100,000 jumps. Tandem skydiving has seen an average of one student fatality per 500,000 jumps over the past 10 years.

For the most recent skydiving safety statistics, please visit the USPA website.

Two. In accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, all intentional parachute jumps must be made with a single harness, dual parachute system with both a main canopy and a reserve canopy. In other words, you have a second (or spare) canopy in case the first one fails to open properly.

Today’s sport parachuting equipment is light years ahead of the old military surplus gear used in the early days of the sport. The materials are stronger, lighter and last longer, the packing procedures are simpler, and the deployment sequence is much more refined.

Main parachutes are repacked after every use, and – in compliance with the FAA – reserves are inspected and repacked every 180 days, regardless of whether or not they have been deployed.

Main parachutes are packed either by a Start Skydiving parachute rigger who is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), or by packers who are under the supervision of an FAA-certified rigger. Reserve parachutes are inspected and repacked only by FAA-certified parachute riggers.

In the highly unlikely event that the main parachute fails, your tandem instructor will deploy the reserve. Should this be necessary, you might not even notice! Your instructor has extensive experience and training, including the emergency procedures associated with a cutaway.

Additional safety features in each skydiving rig include an Automatic Activation Device (AAD), Reserve Static Line (RSL), and a MARDS (Main-Assisted Reserve Deployment System).